Dazucorilant

Corcept is a profitable company in Redwood City, California, that sells cortisol-blocking medicines for Cushing's syndrome (Korlym) and ovarian cancer (Lifyorli). It reported $340.5 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2026 and $662.3 million in cash and investments, so money is not the main constraint. ALS is one of several programmes; most of its effort goes to hormone disorders and cancer.

Cortisol is a stress hormone. Dazucorilant attaches to the glucocorticoid receptor, the docking site cortisol uses, and blocks or tunes down its signal. The idea is that too much cortisol signalling may add to nerve damage and inflammation in ALS. How this would protect motor neurons is not yet proven.

DAZALS, a placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of 249 people in Europe, the US and Canada, reported in December 2024 that it missed its main goal. Its open-label extension continues, and a second part of the study is testing whether starting at a low dose and slowly increasing it reduces stomach pain. Corcept has moved the planned Phase 3 start three times: by mid-2026, then later in 2026, then early 2027; in November 2026 it said only "next year". The FDA has granted Fast Track and orphan drug status.

Over 24 weeks, the drug did not slow the loss of daily function (ALSFRS-R), the main goal: people on either dose lost about 7 to 7.5 points, and people on placebo 6.8. On survival, nobody on 300 mg died in those 24 weeks versus 5 of 82 on placebo. The headline 84% (one year) and 87% (two years) lower risk of death compare the 83 people on 300 mg with only the 18 placebo patients who never switched to the drug, an exploratory comparison that can be biased. Counting everyone as first assigned, deaths by April 2026 were 22 of 83 on 300 mg, 27 of 83 on 150 mg and 32 of 82 on placebo.

This is the most favourable result reported. See all key studies for the full picture.

DAZALS enrolled adults with ALS at 35 sites in 10 countries in Europe and North America. The dose being taken forward is 300 mg, taken as capsules once a day. Stomach pain was the main side effect: BioSpace reports that about 58% of people on 300 mg stopped the drug because of side effects, mostly stomach-related.

In July 2026 Corcept said the Phase 3 trial would start early in 2027; in its November 2026 update it said only that the trial is planned to begin next year. The goal is to confirm the survival benefit. Design details, including sites, have not been published yet.

The DAZALS registry entry is listed as active but not recruiting, so new people cannot join. The Phase 3 trial is not yet registered or enrolling. We found no expanded access programme.

• DAZALS (Phase 2, with dose-titration part) (NCT05407324) active not recruiting · Europe, USA, Canada